All types of traditional braces are fixed or glued to the front of each tooth using high tech "light cured" cement. The following is a summary of the different braces that we use at Petrol Orthodontics.
Ceramic Braces are made of composite materials. They are very strong and resistant to staining. At Petrol Orthodontics, we prefer to use the Clarity ceramic bracket by 3M Unitek. Many of our adult patients choose the Clarity ceramic brackets because they are less noticeable than metal and because of their opaque color they actually blend in with the teeth. These are the type of braces actor Tom Cruise wore to straighten his teeth.
Ligatures are the tiny rubber bands that engage the arch wire into the braces In the case of ceramic braces we use white or clear ligaturesor o-ties. With time, O-ties can stain so they may need to be changed more frequently depending on your diet. Spaghetti sauce, curry, coffee, mustard, red wine and smoke can all stain ligatures but, not the brackets themselves! Of course, we can always change your o-ties anytime they become stained, it only takes a few minutes.
Metal brackets can be silver or golden. The gold brackets are preferred by patients seeking a "bling" look.
Metal braces require o-ties as well to engage the arch wire into the bracket. These ligatures come in every color imaginable and kids love choosing their own special color combination.
Self-ligating brackets, such as the Damon bracket, use a 'sliding gate' mechanism to engage the arch wire into the braces. These brackets do not need ligatures or o-ties to hold the arch wire in place. By using self-ligation technology, the brackets allow the wire to slide freely in the slot resulting in more gentle forces moving the teeth. Self ligating brackets are generally smaller than traditional metal braces so less food gets trapped around them after meals and they are easier to brush and keep clean.
All Braces
Upper front teeth protrude excessively over the lower...
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